Pre Classic Women’s Meet Erupts in History-Making Double World Record Day… Read More…
Eugene, Oregon — The stage was set at Hayward Field, and the world watched in awe as two of the greatest performances in track and field history unfolded within hours of each other. The 2025 Prefontaine Classic Women’s Meet didn’t just deliver on expectations — it obliterated them, becoming a day etched in the annals of athletics forever. Not one, but two world records fell, redefining the limits of human speed and endurance on a sun-kissed Saturday in Eugene.
The crowd, a buzzing sea of flags, signs, and wide-eyed fans, knew they were in for something special — but no one could have predicted just how historic the day would be. The Pre Classic, part of the Wanda Diamond League circuit, has always been a gathering ground for greatness. But on this occasion, it became a launchpad for two sensational world record-breaking performances that stunned even the most seasoned spectators and analysts.
Faith Kipyegon Shatters Her Own 1500m World Record
Kenyan middle-distance queen Faith Kipyegon was the first to unleash history. Already holding the women’s 1500m world record from her stunning 2023 run in Florence, Kipyegon was widely expected to dominate her field once again. But what she delivered was something transcendent.
Clocking in at 3:49.12, she sliced nearly half a second off her own record, displaying poise, power, and unrelenting pace from the gun to the finish line. Her splits were electric: 61 seconds for the first lap, a comfortable 2:03 at the 800m mark, and then a brutal acceleration in the final 300 meters that left the field scattered and the clock gasping to keep up.
“I didn’t come here chasing the record,” Kipyegon humbly said after collapsing to her knees in tears of joy. “I came here to feel the track, to feel the people — and to see what my legs could do. They gave me something extra today.”
Chants of “Faith! Faith! Faith!” erupted in the stadium, and her Kenyan flag, draped across her shoulders, fluttered in the Oregon breeze as she jogged her victory lap. Behind her, Ethiopia’s Freweyni Hailu and Australia’s Linden Hall ran season-bests but were nearly invisible in the shadow of the greatest 1500m performance the world has ever seen.
Femke Bol Smashes 400m Hurdles World Record
As the crowd was still recovering from Kipyegon’s heroics, the stadium announcer brought them back to their feet for the women’s 400m hurdles, where Dutch star Femke Bol was set to face a stacked field.
What followed was pure poetry in motion.
Bol exploded out of the blocks with confidence and fluidity, her long strides eating up the track with grace and precision. By the final bend, it was clear she was not just going for the win — she was chasing history. And when she crossed the line at 50.96 seconds, the place erupted. Not only had she become the first woman in history to run under 51 seconds in the 400m hurdles, she had also annihilated Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone’s previous record of 51.41, set at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.
With her hands on her head, tears streaming, Bol soaked in the moment with disbelief.
“I was running blind from lane six, but I felt strong,” she said breathlessly. “I didn’t look at the clock until the end. When I saw it… I just couldn’t believe it. This is what we dream of. This is why we train through pain, rain, everything.”
McLaughlin-Levrone, now focused more on flat 400m races, was among the first to congratulate Bol via social media, calling her “a warrior” and praising her “unreal talent and humility.”
Double the Glory, Double the Legacy
For track fans, it was a day of jaw-dropping brilliance. For young athletes watching across the world, it was a masterclass in focus, fearlessness, and excellence.
Meet Director Michael Reilly summed it up best: “We knew this lineup had the potential to make history, but no one could’ve written this script. Two world records in one afternoon — this is what the Pre Classic is all about. This is why Hayward Field is hallowed ground.”
Athletes from across events poured onto the infield post-race to embrace the two new record holders. It wasn’t just a day for Kipyegon or Bol — it was a celebration of women in sport, of pushing boundaries, and of rewriting what we think is possible.
Looking Ahead
With the Paris Olympics just weeks away, both athletes have cemented themselves as favorites and icons. The double world-record day at the Pre Classic is sure to ripple through the sport for years to come, altering training philosophies, race strategies, and perhaps even what the world believes the human body is capable of.
As the sun set over Eugene, the scoreboard still glowing with two record-breaking times, one thing was clear: July 5, 2025, would be remembered not just as a day of races, but as a day when women’s athletics reached thrilling new heights — twice.
And the world was lucky enough to witness it all.
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